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Kapa haka rōpū from Te Arawa have been surprised with $5000 each to help them get to New Zealand's premier Māori performing arts event, Te Matatini ki te Ao.

The funding application was made by the Te Arawa Kapa Charitable Trust, and Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust approved the funds before Christmas, handing over the funds at the end of January.

A total of $30,000 was granted meaning $5000 was given to each of the top six Rotorua groups by Waiariki MP and deputy chairman of Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust Tamati Coffey and councillor Trevor Maxwell.

"The purpose is to provide funding to assist our performers as they head to Wellington to represent Rotorua and Te Arawa at the highest level of Māori performing arts in NZ," Coffey said.

The trust had never funded Rotorua performers travelling away to Te Matatini before, he said

Each group had 40 onstage performers, reserves, and often had another bus of supportive whānau in tow.

The MP believed the funding would allow each rōpū to focus on their performances and not their pockets.

"From piupiu to buses, marae stays to petrol. Kapa (groups) are tasked every two years with finding the funds to be able to compete.

"The rōpū were 'happily stunned' to receive the funding from the trust for the first time, many giving thanks in the form of impromptu speeches, waiata and a good old mihi and a kihi (greet and kiss)."

Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust chairman Stewart Edward said kapa haka was an important fabric of Rotorua community and he was happy to support the groups.